‘Mirroring’ Tech Allows Cars to Work Like Smartphones – but Integration Not yet Seamless

DETROIT – Car owners aren’t just craving connectivity. They want their in-vehicle technology to function like — or “mirror” — their smartphones.

According to the J.D. Power 2016 Smartphone Automotive Mirroring Report released Tuesday, that wish is moving closer to reality.

This news comes on the heels of a recently announced partnership between Cox Automotive and cloud platform Vinli that will give dealers the ability to take used cars without connectivity and make them smart cars.

Technologies like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay allow owners to use the larger vehicle screen to take advantage of the more advanced, internet-connected smartphone functions.

“Consumer demand is increasing for more advanced in-vehicle connectivity, and the technology is there, but the integration is far from seamless,” said Kathy Rizk, director of automotive consulting at J.D. Power. “Owners want their vehicle systems to become an extension of their smartphone experience, with the same speed, responsiveness and functionality.

“But early feedback is mixed,” she continued, “and J.D. Power consultants have independently uncovered significant concerns with some of the current market executions.”

When something goes wrong…

Rizk said that when smartphone mirroring technology doesn’t function the way owners expect it to, they are more likely to blame the automaker than their personal device. Since 2013, the two most prevalent problems reported are Bluetooth pairing/poor connectivity and problems understanding voice commands. In 2016, those issues combined for an average for 14 problems per 100 vehicles.

Smartphone mirroring technologies can magnify these problems if poorly executed. An independent analysis by J.D. Power consultants of the same systems measured in the 2016 U.S. Initial Quality Study substantiates these types of issues. The SAM Report discusses that analysis and also provides insights into the various integration executions that are currently being used.